Mystery Music in UI’s Clock Tower
Monday, December 9 2002
Dec. 9, 2002^MOSCOW - As on most campus occasions, the University of Idaho’s carillon will set the afternoon mood for Saturday, Dec. 14, mid-year Commencement. A half-hour before and after the ceremony, it will ring out such tunes as “Here We Have Idaho,” “Pomp and Circumstance,” Silver and Gold, “Winter Wonderland,” “Let it Snow,” and a few requests from graduating seniors.^ In fact, for 40 years, the carillon has been part of UI campus life. Its Westminster clock chimes ring out on the hour and it plays tunes at 12:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m. and 10 p.m. On a blustery Halloween afternoon, a campus walker might hear “Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead.” Following a springtime wedding on the grounds, the carillon will sound out cascades of bells. On a wintry day, the repertoire could be carols. The chimes marked a more somber occasion Sept. 11, by striking 3-4-3 times in honor of the 343 firefighters killed in the New York City attacks.^ The carillon’s notes spill from the Administration Building Clock Tower and carry for miles around. Some Moscow Mountain residents say they mark time by it and are entertained as they work outside on cold, still winter days.^ In reality, nobody actually plays the bells from the tower. Since 1998, the digitized music replicates bell sounds and is pre-recorded on magnetic disks the size of Vandal cards. This electronic Schulmerick carillon is highly automated so that only sound speakers and wires inhabit the tower.^However, its versatility includes the possibility for live concerts, such as the one that takes place Saturday. Susan Billin, the current carilloneur, will play from the keyboard on the theater organ on stage in the Administration Auditorium. The organ keys tell the carillon which notes to play. ^Billin also performed a live concert when the new Schulmerick carillon was installed in 1998, to honor the donors who provided $40,000 to buy it. She played such tunes as “Margaritaville,” “Tennessee Waltz,” “Autumn Leaves,” and the Fight Song.^The modern carillon is the replacement for the original David Memorial Carillon, given in remembrance of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. David by their five children in 1964. It was constructed of hammers that hit tuned pieces of copper. The carilloneur of the 1960s-70s, the late Marian Fryckman, would play regular Sunday afternoon concerts. It also had a “roller player,” and some of the old roles include Beatles music such as “Hey Jude” and “Yesterday.”^For the past two decades, Billin has been the volunteer “live” player. She has been on the faculty of the Lionel Hampton School of Music since 1978, teaching organ, piano and harpsichord. She also is organist at the First Presbyterian Church in Moscow. ^“Carillon playing is different from piano and organ in that it’s important to get the tempo just right and give the bell tones time to resonate,” said Billin. “In that regard, the Fight Song is challenging,” she adds.^“Ensuring the life of the carillon to add to student memories and traditions is a great legacy the alumni have given the campus,” says Billin. “It would be wonderful to find funding to employ a student or musician to play live concerts more often.”^Contact: Susan Billin, Lionel Hampton School of Music, (208) 885-5737, (208) 882-6755, sbillin@uidaho.edu or Nancy Hilliard, University Communications, (208) 885-6567, hilliard@uidaho.edu^-30-^NH-12/9/02-LHSOM-ADM^^
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